Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Chapter 911: Chapter 341: Celestial Master, Lei Jun (4)

"Master, Taoist Brother Nie Dao from the Mystery Observatory has arrived and is waiting in the side hall drinking tea."

After receiving Lei Jun’s instructions, Zhuo Baojie led Nie Fang inside.

Nie Fang saluted Lei Jun: "Junior pays respects to Elder Lei."

Lei Jun glanced at him and slightly nodded: "You have made significant progress."

Nie Fang: "I owe much to the guidance and care of the Celestial Master and Elder Lei over the years."

At the same time, he also thanks The Pale Universe... his heart is filled with emotion.

"This is my new creation." Nie Fang took out a Miniature Bag.

Lei Jun: "No matter, you may unfold it indoors."

Nie Fang nodded, opened the Miniature Bag, and a colossal hull flew out from the opening within the void, towering over six feet.

Yet, this colossal hull did not damage the room.

An invisible mana enveloped it, thus in this square inch the void seemed to evolve, accommodating it within.

Lei Jun, with his profound cultivation, did not need to truly unfold his External Scenery of the Divine Court, revealing his mastery; in the current situation, it was sufficient.

He focused his gaze and saw that the towering figure exceeding six feet was a massive mechanism puppet, entirely black, its material appearing neither metallic nor wooden.

"Good, it has a certain scale now." Lei Jun gently nodded.

Nie Fang’s Engineer Art, a union of multiple lineages including the Taoist Talisman Sect, Artifact Refining Sect, and the now lost Ancient Mohist Mechanical Art in the Great Tang Realm, formed into a distinct art.

Thus, it retained some characteristics of these sects.

For example, the Taoist Artifact Refining Sect, or the External Alchemy School, refines Lifebound Magical Artifacts and Magical Treasures, where one’s cultivation is entirely dependent on them, sharing in prosperity and adversity.

The process of refining magical artifacts and treasures is the Taoist Artifact Refining Sect cultivator’s path to enhance their cultivation, progressing together step by step.

Nie Fang’s Taoist Engineer Art in creating mechanism puppets, while not akin to the relationship between a Taoist Artifact Refining Sect cultivator and their lifebound treasures, also allows for growth in cultivation during puppet creation, benefiting both sides.

With increased cultivation, one can further refine stronger, more complex puppets, which can aid cultivators in their duties and protect the Dao.

When mechanism puppets are damaged, members of the Yanshi Lineage will not be as tied to their Lifebound Magical Artifacts and Treasures as those in the Artifact Refining Sect, but it will have some impact nonetheless.

Presently, most of Nie Fang’s mechanism puppets are humanoid, complete with head, hands, and limbs, facilitating interchange with their owner, making soul interaction easier, akin to controlling one’s own body.

Generally speaking, if engaged with a powerful enemy, Nie Fang at this stage would directly integrate with the mechanism puppet.

Without integration, he can still maneuver the mechanism puppet with spiritual soul thoughts, but not over long distances.

Nie Fang’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the towering figure of the mechanism puppet: "I have named it, Reverse Flow."

Reverse Flow will eventually return to the Heavenly Principle and return to the Great Ming.

Then, continue ascending against the flow.

"It is still far from enough for now." Nie Fang candidly said: "I must continue diligent cultivation."

Lei Jun: "From what I know, your Mystery Observatory has been prospering in recent years, acquiring more disciples, is that so?"

Nie Fang: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; my own cultivation is still exploratory. I dare not expect to soar rapidly, just gradually accumulating day by day.

Indeed, there are more disciples in the observatory, including many children of nearby rural households. I impart some basic Dharma practices to them, which helps improve their lives, and can be considered a good deed."

Lei Jun scrutinized the other party, pondering slightly.

The man bears grievances, steadfastly resolved and never forgotten.

However, in ordinary times, he does not excessively seek fast gains.

The Mystery Puppet Reverse Flow that he refined, though adept in duels, presents a straightforward demeanor in Taoist Engineer Art and Mystery Observatory traditions, always calm and composed.

This is certainly due to the Mystery Observatory currently sheltering under the Celestial Master Mansion, whose rising prestige assures no distant worry and no immediate concern, yet Nie Fang personally remains quite composed himself...

"In haste to return after the ceremony?" Lei Jun asked.

Nie Fang: "Before I set out on this journey, there were arrangements made in the observatory, so it doesn’t matter if I’m a bit late returning."

Lei Jun: "Then stay a few more days; after the ceremony, there might be some matters we can discuss together."

Nie Fang heard and was somewhat surprised, quickly responding after regaining his composure: "I will follow Elder’s instructions."

The various sects and branches of the Taoist Talisman Sect arrived at the Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court before the new year.

On the first day of the first month, Celestial Master Tang presides over his last New Year’s ceremony during his tenure.

After the New Year ceremony, it transitions directly into the preliminary stage of the Celestial Master Succession Ceremony.

This year coincides with the triennial Transcension Ritual, alongside the momentous event of the Celestial Master Succession, causing deliberation on whether to postpone.

Ultimately, it was decided that both would be combined.

After the new Celestial Master ascends, the Transcension Ritual will proceed as planned this year.

With the New Year preceding and Transcension following, the majority of January is filled with celebrations, with the Celestial Master Mansion hosting events rarely seen in recent years.

The official date of the Celestial Master Succession Ceremony is on the fifteenth day of the first month.

But nine days prior to that, corresponding rituals begin to enter their processes.

Therefore, foreign guests outside the Talisman Sect largely arrived by the fifth day of the first month.

Amongst the Taoist sect’s other two Sacred Lands, the Pure Yang Palace sent its highest-ranking elder, Lü Jinduan, as a guest to witness the ceremony.

The Pure Yang Palace has yet to establish a new sect leader.

Since Huang Xuanpu departed, a decade has passed.

Their current situation resembles that of the Celestial Master Mansion after Li Qingfeng’s demise.

For this Celestial Master Succession Ceremony, Jiang Yu remains in seclusion, Yue Xiling continues his low-profile demeanor and shortly returned to the Imperial Capital Luoyang after the Nanzhao battle, leaving Wang Xuan behind to guard the Pure Yang Palace.